Wow, it’s finally here.
And by ‘it’, I of course mean the release day for the final book
in the Ward sister’s series by Karla Sorensen. I’ve loved these characters ever
since they were first introduced way back when in ‘The Marriage Effect’, where
we got to see Logan and Paige’s love story unfold all whilst caring for his
younger sisters. Since then, we’ve been introduced to each sister in turn in
their own books, from Molly and Noah’s story, to Claire and Bauer’s, and Lia
and Jude’s. And now the time has finally come for Isabel to get her happily
ever after – with none other than Aiden Hennessy.
No man has ever rattled Isabel Ward. Until Aiden Hennessy
walks in the door of her gym—ownership papers in hand.
The former fighter is a lot of things- a single dad, a
widower trying to start over, and a watchful presence that knocks her off her
very capable feet.
To make matters worse, Isabel had a crush on him for the
entirety of her teenage years. Doodles in her diaries and letters declaring her
admiration—while never sent—haunt the absolute crap out of her now that she has
to face him every day.
No woman has ever tempted Aiden to move on from the
memory of his wife—until Isabel. She’s too young, too fiery, too much of
everything he should avoid.
But avoiding is impossible, just like pretending the
blistering chemistry between them doesn’t exist.
Now that the unshakeable woman is shaken and the
un-temptable man is tempted, Isabel and Aiden have to decide what they’re
willing to risk for a taste of the forbidden.
Ever since Isabel was first introduced, she was a character
that I felt an instant connection with. The quiet, more serious sister, I knew
that whenever her story eventually came around, it would take a lot to convince
me that the guy is worthy of her. Thankfully though, with the introduction of
Aiden, I shouldn’t have been worried. A former fighter, Aiden is looking for a
fresh start with his daughter away from the heartache of losing his wife.
Now I have to say, normally, the use of a ‘dead ex’ with a
character takes a lot of convincing to keep me reading. I find it so hard to
pull off with a story and continue reading, because essentially to me it seems
like the new love interest is essentially second choice. Am I being too
critical? Who knows. But if the ex hadn’t died, there essentially wouldn’t be a
story to tell. Thankfully though that’s not much of an issue here – Karla handles
the trope well and does it justice. I was fully invested in Isabel and Aiden’s
relationship right from the start.
Isabel is different from the other Ward sisters – in comparison she is quiet, but strong and badass thanks to her pent up anger from their mother abandoning them. First introduced to a gym and fighting back when she was 14 by Paige, Isabel has instead turned it into her passion and now works at that very gym.
Aiden is someone I warmed up to instantly – you could tell
the pain he was feeling after losing his wife and having to look after their
daughter alone, and all he wants is the best for their little girl. Ending his
fighting career he instead starts on a new path as a gym owner, and of course
that’s where he meets the headstrong Isabel.
Seeing the pair meet and try and hide their instant
attraction was great, and the slow build up and intensity of their relationship
changing had me desperate to keep reading on for more. The tension throughout
the book is enough to keep your attention, and the bond and trust they slowly
build until it blossoms into something more is beautiful.
Overall, Forbidden is the perfect conclusion to the Ward
sister’s series, and I’m so happy that Isabel finally got her happily ever
after. I absolutely adore this family and can’t believe the sister’s stories
have come to a close, but boy am I looking forward to whatever it is that Karla
comes up with next (fingers crossed for the next generation of the Ward
family!).
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